Panthers staying focused against winless Nighthawks

It doesn't seem like much of a matchup on paper: the 4-0 Albany Panthers against the 0-4 Knoxville Nighthawks.

But don't tell that to Panthers Head Coach Lucious Davis.

He has his team preparing this week like the Nighthawks are unbeaten.

The team has played each week this season with some incentive, and this week is no different.

The Panthers say they don't want to be the first W on the Nighthawks season.

"They haven't won a game yet and we don't want to be the team that they beat. So that's enough for us," Davis says. "We don't want to go out there and just lay an egg and let them get their first win against us going into their bye week."

For the Panthers to win, Davis says the key will be the Panthers' league-best passing offense to beat the Nighthawks' league-best passing defense.

Davis says the Nighthawks' secondary is an aggressive bunch, and he'll need his receivers to get past Knoxville's pressing man-to-man coverage.

"I think that's going to be a task for us right now, if we can beat the man-to-man coverage," he says. "If we do that and protect the quarterback, I think we'll be ok."

The Panthers kick off against the Nighthawks Friday night at 7 in Knoxville.